We can't stop talking about these bold ideas for living, shopping, commuting, and saving money.

More

view gallery

01of10

01Of10

01Of10

Knockout Germ Fighter

Knockout Germ Fighter

Paints That Protect

Can a paint job help fend off nasty bugs? Sherwin-Williams says yes. Its new germ zapper, Paint Shield, can kill almost all staph, E. coli, and MRSA that land on it. That could help make big group settings, like day care centers and nursing homes, healthier. (The paint is licensed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.) Another reason to breathe easier: Benjamin Moore's Natura line has been certified allergy and asthma friendly. The company says it has zero VOCs, chemicals that can trigger flare-ups.

Sherwin-Williams

01Of10

Greatest Home Guru

Greatest Home Guru

Marie Kondo

Have you Kondo'd your closets yet? With the global success of her book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, lovable neat freak Marie Kondo sparked a clutter-busting frenzyand officially became a verb. In Kondo world, you purge excess junk by choosing what you love enough to keep, rather than identifying what you have to toss. That, she says, makes it easier to part with items you don't care about and cherish what you hang on to. Her new book, Spark Joy, is illustrated to make paring back oh so simple.

Knockout Germ Fighter

Paints That Protect

Can a paint job help fend off nasty bugs? Sherwin-Williams says yes. Its new germ zapper, Paint Shield, can kill almost all staph, E. coli, and MRSA that land on it. That could help make big group settings, like day care centers and nursing homes, healthier. (The paint is licensed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.) Another reason to breathe easier: Benjamin Moore's Natura line has been certified allergy and asthma friendly. The company says it has zero VOCs, chemicals that can trigger flare-ups.

Sherwin-Williams

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

2Of10

Greatest Home Guru

Marie Kondo

Have you Kondo'd your closets yet? With the global success of her book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, lovable neat freak Marie Kondo sparked a clutter-busting frenzyand officially became a verb. In Kondo world, you purge excess junk by choosing what you love enough to keep, rather than identifying what you have to toss. That, she says, makes it easier to part with items you don't care about and cherish what you hang on to. Her new book, Spark Joy, is illustrated to make paring back oh so simple.

Getty

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

3Of10

Best Good-for-the-Earth News

Eco Bulbs

Cheaper and prettier LED options have replaced yesterday's pricey, ­headlight-harsh kind. Last year, Philips Lighting began selling a 60-watt equivalent for under $5. So did Ikea, which now carries LED bulbs exclusively. And smart LEDs let you alter their hues and dim or shut them off from your phone or tablet. Much cooler than using a Clapper.

Funky designs and savvy features? We're seeing LEDs in a new light.

Studio DJ Muckle

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

4Of10

Nicest Neighbor Move

Cleaning Our Streets

People are happier in beautiful spaces, so when you pretty up your nabe, you're providing a vital community service, said artist Theaster Gates in one of 2015's most compelling TED Talks. He should know — he's spent years transforming crumbly Chicago buildings, like an old bank he bought for $1 from the city and turned into a sleek arts center. To channel Gates, join with Keep America Beautiful in primping neighborhoods as part of its Great American Cleanup on March 20.

Nicest Way to Shop

Fair Trade Certified Home Goods

Fair Trade USA, which helps ensure that artisans get a square deal for their products, has teamed up with some of your favorite home companies. Last year, shoppers snapped up the first-ever Fair Trade Certified towels from Coyuchi and over 400 goodies from West Elm and other brands. This year we'll see certified furniture. "Consumers have the power to make a difference with their purchases," says Maya Spaull, Fair Trade USA's director of New and Emerging Categories.

Smartest Urban Health Trend

Cycling Cities

Talk about shifting gears! By the end of 2015, more than 90 American cities had public bike-sharing systems, up from around five in 2010, according to Russell Meddin, who tracks the trend on the Bike-Sharing World Map. That includes newbies (like Philly and Birmingham, AL) as well as programs in rapid expansion (New York and Chicago). In 2016, 40-plus cities are expected to follow suit. If yours isn't on the list, try peer-to-peer bike-sharing apps like Spinlister.

Citi Bike

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

8Of10

Mightiest Movement

Tiny Houses

Itty-bitty houses have been getting loads of attention, spawning four TV shows and dozens of blogs. Why are we so fascinated by pint-size pads? Cultural shifts, says Zack Giffin, host of FYI's Tiny House Nation. Since the 1950s, much of our wealth has been tied to home ownership, with houses growing in size, he explains. "But postrecession, people want to get away from the trap of having a house with upkeep they can't afford," and they're curious about alternatives. In the end, tiny homes raise illuminating questions "about how much space we really need," he says.

UWE Schneider

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

9Of10

Realest Money Adviser

Farnoosh Torabi

Subscribers of Torabi's podcast So Money don't tune in just to learn about Roth IRAs. The show is a mix of fiscal strategy and candid conversations, with leaders and celebs opening up about their own financial highs and lows. (Tim Gunn, for example, revealed that he'd lived paycheck to paycheck not so long ago.) "You walk away knowing you're not alone in your challenges with money," says Torabi. And that makes facing your finances a lot less scary.

Farnoosh Torabi

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

10Of10

Most Inspired Solution

Showers on Wheels

For San Francisco's homeless, shower stalls are few and far between, but former marketing exec Doniece Sandoval is changing that. Her nonprofit, Lava Mae, turns city buses into mobile shower stations, and the idea is catching on. Lava Mae is helping other cities, like Honolulu, start their own mobile-hygiene programs.